Trust FEWA. You won’t go powerless abruptly.

The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) has affirmed that electricity can never be disconnected all of a sudden, and is only be snapped after a 51-day notice period.

This follows complaints from some customers that the authority has severed power connection from their houses without notice for failing to pay pending bills.

Mohammed Saleh, Director General of FEWA, said they followed certain procedures before finally snapping power from any customer in case of failure to pay due bills. “This can only happen after 51 days from the first notices.”

FEWA initially sends SMS and emails to all the customers who have updated their details with the authority, he explained. “Printed bills are also sent to all customers on a monthly basis after the consumption readings are collected by our staff meter readers.”

He said that FEWA can never disconnect power unless the outstanding consumption exceeds the due credit limit. “Further, a 51-day grace period is given before disconnection,” he said. “However, electricity is reconnected immediately after making payment of the dues.”

Emirati nationals and residents had earlier complained that FEWA had recently disconnected power from their houses because they could not pay their pending bills.

Abdullah Al Mutawea, an Emirati, said the power was disconnected from his house before the end of the month when he was yet to get his salary. “I was facing some problem and could not pay the bill.”

He urged the officials concerned to make such disconnection in the beginning of the month to be able to make the payment. “It would also be better if FEWA bills are linked with our bank accounts to be automatically deducted.”

Saeed Salem, a resident of Al Rams area, said that the power was suddenly disconnected from his house without any notice. “When I approached FEWA, they blamed the disconnection on my failure to pay pending bills.”

This is the first time that I got late because I was staying abroad for some important work, he explained. “There should be a new mechanism for disconnecting power, by either giving a phone call or sending an SMS to customers before disconnecting electricity.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Adel Burham, an Egyptian resident, said he did not see the disconnection notice FEWA sent him on the printed monthly bill. “I did receive the bill, but neither opened it nor was alerted by any disconnection notice,” he said. “It would be much better if we are alerted by a phone call or an SMS.”

Mohammed Saleh, another Emirati, said the power was disconnected from the house of his elderly mother. “She was not aware of the disconnection notice printed on the bill,” he said. “I immediately paid the outstanding amount and got the power restored.”